With a prayer to Heironeous on his lips and in his heart and with a mighty swing of his blade, Caesius severs the tentacle that has impaled Saeko, sending her staggering back into Qvar's arms where the priest calls upon Pelor to ease her wounds, though the barb is driven deep into her flesh and every move brings fresh agony to the Daughter of the Wind.

Zertin and Ashlyn press the attack, hoping to keep the horror at bay, as the Wizard sends a flurry of mystic globes of energy at the creature and the armoured woman's blade piercing its constantly shifting flesh.

At the far side of the room, Violet shifts her focus to the figure who approaches, his feral features and wild eyes deciding her actions as she looses two shafts at him.  The man seems not to notice as both fly past him, matter not the second is but a hair's breadth from his cheek.

The shapeless spawn, a pulsing heart glowing bright red and two saclike organs glowing a paler red beside it, beneath its black, membraneous skin, begins to scream as its severed appendage flails back and forth, spraying a thick, black ichor, stopping the man in his tracks as he shouts and roars incomprehensibly in response.  The creature's flesh roils, appendages forming, an eye stalk here, a mouth there and then being subsumed back into its mass almost as quickly as the scream becomes a ululation, that tries to force its way into your minds, far worse than the babbling of the smaller creatures, forcing even Ireena to fall silent as she covers her ears.

OOC: Everyone needs to make a DC 20 Will Save vs confusion; additionally Ashlyn, Caesius, Qvar and Saeko make a Fort Save vs DC20 vs nausea.
This message was last edited by the GM at 04:52, Sun 28 Jan.

Oh, ye Gods! That noise, that horrendous noise ...

Zertin rolled 12 using 1d20+7.  Will save DC20 vs confusion. – 12

Two arrows loosed, two arrows missed despite the close range and the slow pace.  Violet frowns, uncertain how her aim has suddenly become so poor...

...the constant, chattering babble crawls into her ears and takes up residence behind her eyes.

OOC - So that's another miserable failure.  :)

The armoured-woman grits her teeth and fights to stay on her feet as the creature's cry washes over her like a wave ... but her god is with her and she triumphs over adversity.  Still undsteady, she elects to keep her distance from the shapeless mass, instead following the example of Caesius as she hacks at the tentacle that threatens her.

Caesius voice rises higher as he presses his attack against the creature...

"Father Heironeous!
Father Heironeous!
New life, empty tomb!
Spare the test, save from death,
Gather our spirits on dying breaths!
Father Heironeous!"

Razor hacks at the profane mass again and again...

"Strike true!" Qvar calls encouragement to Caesius and Ashlyn as he struggles to pull the barb from Saeko to ease her pain and get her blades back to the fight.

The terrible ululation leaves Zertin, Violet and Ireena clutching at their ears, their senses reeling, while Saeko's agonies from the embedded barb override all her reason ... but Ashlyn and Caesius prove their mettle and manage to shrug off the assault, somehow managing to shut out the dreadful wailing and overcoming the rising gorge to press the assault, while Qvar remains wholly unaffected, though his efforts to help Saeko seem to be doing more harm than good as he finally pulls the barb free of her flesh in shower of blood, her screams cutting off abruptly as she lies lifeless on the ground.

Indeed the ferocity of the attacks that the warriors of Lathander and Hieroneous launch at the heaving mass as they try to save their companions seems to set the creature aback.  Caesius, a battle cry upon his lips, plunges his blade repeatedly deep into its constantly shifting flesh, while Ashlyn manages to slice through yet another of its tentacles.

The noise cuts off abruptly as the shapeless spawn moves backwards, now lowing in pain as it edges away from the pair, much to the relief of those rendered helpless by the sound, though the feral figure continues to roar and shout incomprehensibly, taking a single step towards the creature, pausing as his foot strikes the edge of the first step of the platform upon which the throne stands.

OOC: Map of the proceedings updated ...

"Saeko?  Saeko!"  Incredulous, Qvar shakes her lifeless form.

He gathers his wits and presses a hand to her wound, his glow blazing brightly and bathing her in light and warmth.  "Merciful Pelor, give her back!"

Zertin shakes his head to clear away the last traces of confusion then steps forward into the doorway alongside Ireena. He recites a spell and points two fingers at the shapeless creature to shoot two scorching rays at it.

Zertin rolled 12,16 using d20+6,d20+6.  Ranged touch attacks for 2 rays (includes Bless). – 12,16
Zertin rolled 12,11 using 4d6,4d6.  Scorching ray damage (2 rays). – 12,11

Stumbling and staggering, Violet struggles to free her mind.  The infernal whispers continue to plague her, drowning out need, drowning out necessity, even drowning out the screaming.  Somewhere within, a voice calls out that she’s needed, but that lorn voice cannot make itself heard.  It’s only when the demonic mass suffers its own vicious injuries and its cries turn to moans of pain that her head begins to clear.   And her eyes fall upon the scene before her.

Too little, too late.

Composure vanishes, and with a shriek of fury Violet fumbles for an arrow, immediately loosing it.  Another follows, winging on its way to her target – not the infernal beast, but at the wild man close to the altar.   One, fumbled in her fury, flies wild.  The second?  A steadying breath, and this time her hands are rock solid.

OOC – Haste spell, additional action (assuming I’m still hasted).  To hit rolls of 10 and 29 (crit).  Confirmation roll of 22 (PB shot).  Ignore second roll, phone error.
Damage: 3 damage, +2.  Critical multiplier x3 if confirmed crit.
This message was last edited by the player at 18:31, Sun 25 Feb.

Caesius hears Qvar's criess, and turns his head towards the priest, seeing Saeko laying on the floor.

"Qvar!  Does she yet live?" he calls out, torn now between pursuing the enemy and saving an ally.  Either would be the right course of action in the eyes of Heironeous.

If the woman is dead, of course, then retribution would become the only option...

Qvar looks up when called.  He sees the monstrous being falling back and Zed and Violet driving it, opening a path for them to continue their quest.  He replies to Caesius, his mouth a firm line.  "That is between her and her gods, not mine, nor yours."

Pleading with his god, Qvar desperately casts a healing spell upon Saeko as Ireena looks on in horror ... but it is too late, for the Daughter of the Wind has taken her last breath; her spirit at least may now escape this realm of evil and shadow, where mere flesh could not do so. 

With the terrible ululation now ended, Zertin steps determinedly forwards, loosing a pair of fiery rays at the heaving mass of the shapeless spawn, causing it to moan anew in agony as it drags itself away, its severed tentacles dangling uselessly as it trails bloody ichor in its wake, the wild man continuing to clutch his head and echo its cries.

Caesius calls out to Qvar, but the slumped body in Ashlyn's arms tell the Paladin all he needs to know.  Grimly he strides towards the creature, picking up speed to a run as he calls out to Heironeous, bringing Razor down and cutting deep into its shifting flesh.

The creature collapses, stilled at last, forcing Caesius to step back as its form begins to spread out.  The wild man's screams reach a crescendo as Violet fires her arrows at him, the first, guided by fury alone, shattering against the throne, but the second has both reason and skill to send it on its way, and pierces his shoulder.

The screams stop as the man lowers his head to look at the protruding shaft, then raises it again to regard the dead creature at his feet,

Slowly he straightens, standing tall,  his eyes clear once more and now lit with the light of reason, surveying you all, as if for the first time, and lingering upon Ireena for a moment.  His lips curl in a smile ... then abruptly  his form wavers into a mist which swiftly moves towards the southern wall, vanishing as it flows into the stone.

OOC: Map of the proceedings updated ...

For a moment Zertin looks annoyed that the man managed to escape before Zertin could even get off a shot at him with his wand. Then he looks thoughtful and turns to Ireena.

"Ireena, was that the master of these halls? Do you recognise him, if only from your dreams?" he asks. "If it was, he may have intended for us to rescue him from that creature so he could infiltrate our group."
This message was last edited by the player at 13:33, Wed 28 Feb.

"Those creatures," Ireena can barely bring herself to even look upon their corpses, turning her head aside, "I have seen them before, haunting my dreams !  Tentacled horrors, howling in the darkness !"  She shudders.

"The man ..." her hand unconsciously covers the bite marks upon her neck "... yes, I believe it was much like him, at the last."

"But the man in my dreams was powerful, commanding - he did not cower or wail."

"I thought the unliving to be terrible enough," Ashlyn says grimly, still cradling Saeko's unmoving body.  "I've not seen the like of those tentacled horrors before nor wish ever to do so again."

"Do you think our fallen friend would be safe back in the chapel ?" the armoured woman suggests, gently, her question directed to Qvar and Caesius, for, to her mind, the care of the dead is a religious duty in the main.

"That's a good idea," Zertin agreed. "I can't think of anywhere else safer in this gods-forsaken place."

"Yes, you're right Ashlyn, Zed." Qvar replies resignedly.  "But while this place appears forsaken, we bring our gods with us."  He looks down at the body he kneels beside.  "You fought that the Sun would win against this mist.  You brought honour to your family, Saeko, third daughter of the Yamashima Family."

Rising, he wipes blood from his hands onto his robe.  He looks at the foul mess on the floor and then at Caesius.  "Strike true indeed!" he smiles in appreciation.

Catching Violet's eye he admits, "I might have asked you to stay your hand, that we could aid the ragged man.  Your instinct was better than mine."  He smiles again in appreciation.  "That, I think, was the first blow struck against our enemy himself."

Disappearing, the man likewise disappears from Violet’s thoughts.  Immediately her companions turn to discussion; she does not.  Instead, the young woman begins to walk, a slightly meandering route that takes her slowly towards where Saeko lies.  Next to her, Qvar rises; she hears his words, but they hold little meaning to her.

Of what use her arrows when Saeko has already perished?

For a moment her face twists into an ugly mask of grief; then Violet claims control once again, dragging in a shuddering breath and dashing the tears from her eyes with the back of her hand.  Slowly she crouches next to the body, struggling to recall the stories she has heard of Lannet.  Legends and docktales, nothing more…she is useless here, as well.  So Violet places the warrior’s unsheathed sword on her chest and with gentle movements wraps the fingers of both the dead woman’s hands about the hilt.  Biting her lip, she rocks back and forth for a long moment before whispering.  “I know nothing of your spirits, or what you worship.  But even in Hell you died a warrior’s death, sword in-hand, facing your enemies without flinching.”

Surely that must count for something?

Her swollen eyes flick to Caesius.

A muscle in her jaw jumps, and Violet rises to stride to the tall warrior, her hands fumbling in her pouch.  Another heathen…but his…his god clearly stands with him, whatever that god might be.  “Here,” she snaps, her anger with herself rather than Caesius, and halts before the armoured man, holding out a small, well-carven wooden amulet, ribbons hanging from each of its sides.  “You are a servant of a god, yes?  Then wear and use this in their name; I weary of carrying it, waiting for the proper person.”

Her lips tighten.  “Perhaps….perhaps that person is you.”
This message was last edited by the player at 17:45, Mon 11 Mar.

Caesius looks at the amulet in Violet's hand.  It doesn't resemble the symbol of any god that he knows of, and he is hesitant to take it at first, but a few seconds of scrutiny does not reveal it to be tainted by evil.

He stretches forth his hand and accepts the item.  "Heironeous is my God.  He is the giver of Law, Justice, Protection and Weal.  I accept your gift, and thank you in His name.  I swear that I will put it to whatever use I am able, to purge the Darkness from this place."

Bowing his head, the paladin ties the ribbons to hang the amulet around his neck, beside the fist and lightning bolt emblem of Heironeous.

Qvar silently bears witness to violet's grief, then her unburdening as she bestows her Heaven-sent gift upon Caesius and his gracious acceptance.  His small smile and slow nod acknowledge the rightness of this exchange.

He makes a slow circuit of the room, looking over the throne and peering into any dark corners and passages, then returns to stand beside Zertin and Ireena.  "Let us return to the Chapel now.  We can rest safely there and regain our strength."

Zertin joins Qvar in searching the room then readily agrees with the suggestion to return to the chapel to give Saeko's body a safer resting place.

Zertin rolled 20 using 1d20+4.  Spot skill check. – 20
Zertin rolled 25 using 1d20+5.  Search skill check. – 25

The armoured woman places her hand upon Violet's shoulder. "Our friend has fought upon the side of the Light and is now released from her duty," she offers in comfort.

"She was a daughter of a noble house?" Ashyln confirms with Qvar. "Then her blades are as like to be heirlooms of her Family. When our task is done, we should take them from this place that we might return them and so honour her sacrifice."

"You and I will carry her back to the chapel," she suggests to Violet.

The death of Saeko hits Violet hard, for whatever small comforts the rest of you can offer.  In the face of such loss, the young woman finds herself moved to offer up her precious Phylactery to Caesius, and the Paladin formally accepts the charge, offering his gratitude.

Though the thought that the feral man might have been Strahd himself is a compelling one, for the moment your thoughts turn to more practical matters.  Qvar and Zertin quickly search the room while the rest of you prepare Saeko's body for removal, their search at first fruitless, until the Wizard's keen eyes fall upon an ancient book lying on the steps behind the throne, bound in a thick black leather cover with brass hinges, though the brothers quickly determine that the volume will require more careful study than the moment allows, for the pages are brittle, and the penmanship of the writings within poor indeed.

Ashlyn and Violet take up Saeko's body and with Caesius leading the way and Ireena, flanked by Qvar and Zertin following, you make your way as swiftly as due ceremony allows, back to the Chapel without incident where they lay the Daughter of the Wind before the altar, as the Wizard, mindful of the wards, hangs back.

OOC: Map of the proceedings updated ...

Qvar assists Ashlyn and Violet to lay Saeko to rest before the altar.  He nods thoughtful agreement with Ashlyn's suggestion to return Saeko's possessions to her family.  He smiles at the optimism embraced in that plan, another quest perhaps after the Sun has brightened Barovia again.

Rising he looks at his companions, trying to take in their mood and guess what they need.  "Friends, let us not be discouraged."  He floods the chapel with Daylight cast upon the altar.  "We have come far, and learned that this land, Barovia, needs our help to prosper again.  We have restored the Sunstone, and set out to mend the Sunsword, weapons to use against our enemy, Strahd.  Saeko's death will not be in vain if we hold to our quest.  For now we should rest and regain our strength.  Tomorrow we shall set out again."  He sits on a serviceable pew and unwraps the leftover breakfast foods, inviting the others to gather and share a meal.

"Do you recognise the language the book is written in, Zed?" he asks his brother.  "Let's learn what we can before tonight's rest and Vigil."

All through that afternoon his eyes wander the the unexplored passage from the south of the chapel.  "Shall we see where that leads?" he asks Violet hopefully, although making it clear that he'll do no such thing if she's not comfortable with the idea.